Rachael Johnson, undergraduate, presented her research on motivation to study music at college at the American Music Therapy Association conference in St. Louis, MO in November. This is the second consecutive year that an undergraduate student from WIU has presented research at the national conference. Rachael's paper was titled Students Pursuing a Degree in Music at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level: A Qualitative Study on Motivation. Dr. Jennifer Jones was the study advisor. In addition to Rachael, six other students attended the conference and joined the 1200 music therapists gathered for the event.
- Dr. Jennifer Jones chaired a presentation by current and former editorial board members of the two national publications in music therapy Journal of Music Therap and Music Therapy Perspectives. The session entitled Writing for Publication: Guidelines to Follow and Tips for Success included the following authors/editors: Mary Adamek (University of Iowa), Andrea Cevasco (University of Alabama), Alicia Clair (University of Kansas), Alice-Ann Darrow and Jayne Standley (Florida State University), Michele Forinash (Lesley University), Michelle Hairston (East Carolina University), Jennifer Jones (Western Illinois University), and Brian Wilson (Western Michigan University).
Broffitt 
Mindeman 
Briney
Dr. Richard Cangro presented Essential Experiences in Band and Orchestra at the Iowa Music Educators Association conference at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. The session was well received. The handout is on the IMEA website for anyone interested.
Heidi Clemmens, Christiane Morel, and Kitty Karn performed "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair" at the 2008 PAS Gala South Pacific.
- Karn's students Blake Davy and Sara King also performed at the Gala.
- Karn's student Lily Blouin, was a finalist in the Broadway I Division of the state National Association of Teachers of Singing competition at Eastern Illinois University in November.
Douglas Huff gave an interactive, electronic poster presentation entitled "Classical Music Video Projects Created by Non-Music Majors" at the Association for Technology in Music Instruction National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia Conference in September 2008. Conference participants responded to questions about the videos with electronic response pads ("clickers") that Dr. Huff's students use in his music appreciation class, "What to Listen for in Music."
Matthew Warnock and WIU grad student Tyler Ross were the fall semester's featured artists for the Merit School of Music's guitar studio. Matt and Tyler were in residence at the school on November 15th where they gave clinics and were featured in a concert alongside Merit guitar faculty Tom Clippert.
Mr. Clippert will be in residence at WIU the week of April 5th where he will be teaching lessons, giving clinics and performing a concert in COFAC.
- The WIU jazz guitar ensemble performed at Blackhawk College's east campus in Kewanee on November 1st as part of their monthly Saturday night concert series. The event was the first time the group, which formed 15 months ago, has performed off campus.
School of Music Website.